Safety catch for lunch kit

ABSTRACT

A lunch kit or the like embodying an improved and simplified latch that precludes accidental opening of the lunch kit unless the lunch kit is properly oriented. The latch includes a gravity biased safety member that precludes the release of the latching member until the lunch kit is properly oriented.

United States Patent 11 1 Bell Nov. 13, 1973 [54] SAFETY CATCH FOR LUNCH KIT 995,429 6/1911 Carter 292/250 467,816 1/1892 Kimball 206/l.5 [75] Invent: Vern Bell Westerly, 1,285,112 11/1918 Gaines 292/248 [73] Assignee: King-Seeley Thermos Company [22 il d; S 29 1971 Primary Examiner-Richard E. Moore [2n A l N 184 729 Att0rneyHarness, Dickey & Pierce 52 vs. c1. 292/250, 292/246 ABSTRACT ";57 g A lunch kit or the like embodying an improved and 292,248 17 DIC; simplified latch that precludes accidental opening of b 206' the lunch kit unless the lunch kit is properly oriented. The latch includes a gravity biased safety member that 56] Ref rence Cited precludes the release of the latching member until the UNITED STAT}; PATENTS lunch kit is properly oriented. 307,213 10/1884 Milbourne et a1. 292/250 10 vClaims, 4 Drawing Figures .PAIENTEU REV 3 I873 INVENTOR.

1 SAFETY CATCH FOR LUNCH KIT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a safety latch that is particularly adapted for use with lunch kits or the like and more particularly to a latch that prevents accidental opening of the lid of the lunch kit.

' A number of hand carried containers have pivotally supported lids that are held in a closed position by some form of latch. Normally the lid is supported for pivotal movement between an opened and closed position about an axis that is horizontally disposed and which axis is positioned at the lower corner of the container when it is being hand carried. The common childrens school lunch kit is a typical example of such a container. A disadvantage with this construction is that the finger operated latches may be accidentally opened when the container is being carried thus permitting the lid to swing open and the contents to spill out of the container. Although it is possible to provide a latch mechanism that will insure against accidental opening, the mechanisms heretofore proposed for this purpose have been complicated, expensive and difficult for a small child to operate.

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide a simplified safety latch that precludes opening of a container lid until the container is properly oriented.

It is another object of the invention to provide a low cost and simplified safety latch of the type aforedescribed that is convenient to operate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A safety latch embodying this invention is adapted to be used for holding the lid of a lunch kit or the like in a closed position. The safety latch includes a first latch member that is movable between a latched position in which it precludes opening of the lid and in a released position in which the lid may be opened. A second latch member responsive to the position of the lunch kit or the like precludes movement of the first latch member from its latched position to its released position unless the lunch kit or the like isrpositioned in a predetermined position;

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lunch kit embodying this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view taken in the direction of the arrow 2 in FIG. 1, and shows the latch mechanism in its latched position.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view, in part similar to FIG. 3, showing the mechanisn in a different orientation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A A lunch .kit embodying this invention is identified generally by the reference numeral ll. The lunch kit 11 is comprised of a main body portion 12 that defines an internal cavity in which a vacuum bottle, sandwiches or the like may be positioned. A lid 13 is hinged to the main body portion 12 in any known mannerto provide a pivotal closure for its cavity. A handle -14 is carried by the main body portion 12 and is disposed at the side opposite to the side where the cover 13 is hinged to the main body portion 12. A safety latch assembly, indicated generally by the reference numeral 15, is juxtaposed to the handle 14 for retaining the lid 13 in a closed position, as will become more apparent as this description proceeds.

The safety latch assembly 15 is comprised of a first latch member 16 of a hasp like configuration. The member 16 is supported for pivotal movement between a latched and a released position by a supporting assembly 17. The supporting assembly 17 is suitably affixed to the main body member 12 and'includes a biasing spring (not shown), that tends to maintain the latching member 16 in position.

The latching member 16 defines an opening 18 that is adapted to receive a Cooperating keeper 19 that is affixed to the lid 13 for holding the lid 13 in its closed position. The construction thusfar described is conventional and provides a relatively low cost latching mechanism. However, the extending finger tab 21 of the latching member 16 is exposed and may be inadvertently tripped with a conventional latching mechanism so that the lid 13 is free to swing open when the lunch kit 11 is being carried by the handle 14. If this'occurs,

the contents of the lunch kit will, of course, spill out. In order to prevent this inadvertent opening a second latch member, indicated generally by the reference numeral 23, is provided. The second latch member 23 is pivotally supported on a pivot pin 24 that is carried by the keeper 19. The second latch member 23 has an eccentric portion 25 that is offset from the pivot axis defined by the pivot pin 24 so as to exert a gravitation bias on the latching member 23, as will become more apparent. A locking surface 26 is also formed'on the second latching member 23 adjacent the'pivot pin 24. This locking surface 26 is adapted to cooperate with the first latching member 16 to preclude its release until the lunch kit 11 is properly oriented. When the first latching member 16 is in its latched position and the lunch kit 11 is carried by the handle 14 (FIG. 4) the second latching member 23 is biased by its eccentric portion 25 to a safety locking position. In this position, the surface'26 is disposed in relationship to the first locking member 16 so that the first locking member 16 cannot be pivoted to its released position The eccentric portion 25 has a surface 27 that engages a surface 28 of the keeper 19 so as to preclude further clockwise rotation of the latching member 23 about the pivot pin 24.

When the lunch kit 11 is oriented so that the lid 13 is disposed in a horizontal plane (FIG. 3) the second latching member 23 will be rotated about the pivot pin 24 by its eccentric portion 25 to the position shown in this figure. In this position, the surface 26 is disposed clear of the first latching member 16 so that the first latching member may be freely released without any interference from the safety latching member 23. Thus, an automatic release of the safety latching member 23 is provided.

It should be noted that the safety latching member 23 will not interfere with the normal latching operation of the first latching member 16 regardless of the orientation of the lunch kit 11. Referring again to FIG. 4, if the first latching member 16'is considered .in its released position, the safety latching member 23 will be positioned in such a way that it will be contacted by the first latching member 16 as the first latching member 16 is moved to its engaged position. However, the safety latching member 23 is free to pivot in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot pin 24 when it is engaged by the first latching member 16. Once the first latching member 16 is in its latched position the safety latching member 23 will again be biased to its safety latching position as shown in FIG. 4

It should be readily apparent that the aforedescribed latching mechanism is simple in operation and requires no special latching steps. Due to the simple construction the cost is quite low and the device may be operated by small children in a conventional manner. The invention, of course, may be used in conjunction with other devices than lunch kits and various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A lunch kit or the like comprising a body having an opening in its upper surface, a lid'supported by said body for pivotal movement about an axis disposed at one side of said opening between a closed position and an opened position, a handle for carrying said lunch kit fixed to the side of said body opposite to said pivot axis, and a safety latch, carried by said lunch kit, said safety latch comprising a first latch member movable between a latched position for precluding opening of the lid and a released position in which the lid may be opened, and a second latch member responsive to the position of the lunch kit or the like for precluding movement of said first latch member from its latched position to its released position when said lunch kit is carried by said handle and for permitting movement of said first latch member to its released position when said lunch kit is positioned with its opening facing upwardly.

2. A lunch kit or the like as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second latch member is gravity operated and is biased by gravity to a safety locking position when the lunch kit or the like is not positioned with its opening facing upwardly.

3. A lunch kit as set forth in claim 2 wherein the second latch member is pivotally supported for movement between its safety locking position and its released position.

4. A lunch kit comprising a body, a lid supported by said body for movement between a closed position and an opened position and a safety latch, said safety latch comprising a first latch member movable between a latched position for precluding opening of the lid and a released position in which the lid may be opened, and

a gravity operated second latch member responsive to the position of the lunch kit or the like said second latch member being pivotally supported for movement between a released position for permitting movement of said first latch member to its released position and biased by gravity to a safety locking position for precluding movement of said first latch member from its latched position to its released position unless the lunch kit or the like is positioned in a predetermined position.

5. A lunch kit or the like as set forth in claim 4 wherein the first latch member comprises a hasp pivotally supported by the body of the lunch kit and further including a keeper carried by the lid and cooperating with the hasp.

6. A lunch kit or the like as set forth in claim 5 wherein the second latch member is gravity operated and is biased by gravity to a safety locking position when the lunch kit or the like is not positioned in the predetermined position.

7. A lunch kit or the like as set forth in claim 6 wherein the second latch member is pivotally supported for movement between its safety locking position and released position.

8. A lunch kit or the like as set forth in claim 7 wherein the second latch member is pivotally supported by the keeper.

9. A lunch kit or the like as set forth in claim 8 wherein the second latching member is freely movable from its safety latching position to its released position and back to its safety latching position when the first latch member is moved from its released position to its latched position regardless of the orientation of the lunch kit or the like.

10. A lunch kit or the like having a body member, a lid adapted to be opened and closed and pivotally supported by said body member between its opened and closed position, and a safety latch comprising a hasp pivotally supported by said body member for movement between a latched position and a released position, a keeper carried by said lid and adapted to be engaged by the hasp when said lid is closed and the hasp is in its locked position for holding said lid in its closed position, a pivot pin carried by said keeper, and a safety latch pivotally supported by said pivot pin, said safety latch having a locking portion adapted to engage said hasp and an eccentric portion biased by gravity for moving said locking portion into a locked position when said lunch kit or the like is not in a predetermined position for biasing said locking portion into a released position when the lunch kit or the like is in a predetermined position. 

1. A lunch kit or the like comprising a body having an opening in its upper surface, a lid supported by said body for pivotal movement about an axis disposed at one side of said opening between a closed position and an opened position, a handle for carrying said lunch kit fixed to the side of said body opposite to said pivot axis, and a safety latch, carried by said lunch kit, said safety latch comprising a first latch member movable between a latched position for precluding opening of the lid and a released position in which the lid may be opened, and a second latch member responsive to the position of the lunch kit or the like for precluding movement of said first latch member from its latched position to its released position when said lunch kit is carried by said handle and for permitting movement of said first latch member to its released position when said lunch kit is positioned with its opening facing upwardly.
 2. A lunch kit or the like as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second latch member is gravity operated and is biased by gravity to a safety locking position when the lunch kit or the like is not positioned with its opening facing upwardly.
 3. A lunch kit as set forth in claim 2 wherein the second latch member is pivotally supported for movement between its safety locking position and its released position.
 4. A lunch kit comprising a body, a lid supported by said body for movement between a closed position and an opened position and a safety latch, said safety latch comprising a first latch member movable between a latched position for precluding opening of the lid and a released position in which the lid may be opened, and a gravity operated second latch member responsive to the position of the lunch kit or the like , said second latch member being pivotally supported for movement between a released position for permitting movement of said first latch member to its released position and biased by gravity to a safety locking position for precluding movement of said first latch member from its latched position to its released position unless the lunch kit or the like is positioned in a predetermined position.
 5. A lunch kit or the like as set forth in claim 4 wherein the first latch member comprises a hasp pivotally supported by the body of the lunch kit and further including a keeper carried by the lid and cooperating with the hasp.
 6. A lunch kit or the like as set forth in claim 5 wherein the second latch member is gravity operated and is biased by gravity to a safety locking position when the lunch kit or the like is not positioned in the predetermined position.
 7. A lunch kit or the like as set forth in claim 6 wherein the second latch member is pivotally supported for movement between its safety locking position and released position.
 8. A lunch kit or the like as set forth in claim 7 wherein the second latch member is pivotally supported by the keeper.
 9. A lunch kit or the like as set forth in claim 8 wherein the second latching member is freely movable from its safety latching position to its released position and back to its safety latching position when the first latch member is moved from its released position to its latched position regardless of the orientation of the lunch kit or the like.
 10. A lunch kit or the like having a body member, a lid adapted to be opened and closed and pivotally supported by said body member between its opened and closed position, and a safety latch comprising a hasp pivotally supported by said body member for movement between a latched position and a released position, a keeper carried by said lid and adapted to be engaged by the hasp when said lid is closed and the hasp is in its locked position for holding said lid in its closed positioN, a pivot pin carried by said keeper, and a safety latch pivotally supported by said pivot pin, said safety latch having a locking portion adapted to engage said hasp and an eccentric portion biased by gravity for moving said locking portion into a locked position when said lunch kit or the like is not in a predetermined position for biasing said locking portion into a released position when the lunch kit or the like is in a predetermined position. 